Regris arrived an hour later, with freshly built devices for the Maji. After another test of the one in my own wrist, everything seemed to be operational. Kala was the last one to get the device implanted under the skin on her wrist.

"So this thing really works, huh?"

I nodded, leaning on the table close to Regris as he worked. The man was meticulous with everything that he did and he was a great nurse - had found that out first hand. "They appear to. Not saying they'll work for the next ten years or more but for now, they work."

She watched as Regris numbed the area where he would make the small incision. "And what's the point of these? I mean if we shut down RI and their production of CD, why do we need these?"

"Because," I shrugged a shoulder, "even if we take out RI, there's always going to be someone out there who doesn't like what we are. I'd rather be safe than sorry."

I took her silence as an agreement. But then it might have just been the fact that Regris had picked up the small laser cutter. It would make the cleanest cut, making it quick to heal and would leave a barely-there scar. Glancing at my own wrist, I could only see the paper-thin scar if the light above hit it just right. Looking back up, I just saw the device slip under Kala's skin. The incision was shut a moment later with another laser tool.

Setting the tool down, Regris smiled. "There we are, you're all done. I'm going to bandage it up, just to keep it clean until the area calms down."

Taking her wrist off the table, Kala rubbed around the simple bandage. Looking at me, her expression was serious. "You haven't told us what we're doing with the Maji that are still on the station."

My heart stopped in my chest; my lungs refused to take in any oxygen. I heard Regris freeze for the briefest second before continuing to clean up the table. Images of what I saw inside the station flooded my mind. The poor people strapped to machines that both sucked out their energy and yet kept them alive for as long as possible. Swallowing, I wasn't sure if my throat would even let words out. "Kala...those people...they're dead, or as close to it. We can't save them."

I had never said the words out loud. Until this point, I never had to. Everyone knew what was on that station. I watched Kala's face as different emotions registered - shock, anger, pain. Shaking my head slowly, I tried to keep my arms away from my body. I felt like hugging myself into a tiny ball. "I'm sorry, Kala...but they can't be saved...but doing this? Destroying that station? It'll save what's left of them from enduring a slow death."

For a moment, I was filled with uncertainty. Was she going to back out? If she did, I was sure the rest of the Maji she had convinced to come along would leave with her. But then she slowly began to nod her head. "Okay. I'll tell the others." She left the bunker, heading back to the Phoenix, before I could say anything more.

Regris met my eyes and offered a smile, "You're doing a great job, kid."

Unsure of how to feel by the compliment, I tried to return the smile. "Thanks." Now, I only hoped the rest of the Maji would be as understanding as Kala had been.

A few hours later and we arrived at the next base, closer to the station. This one, located on an uninhabited planet's moon, was much bigger. It had multiple rooms, including two bedrooms with multiple beds. A landing pad hidden in a deep cavern was plenty big enough for both the Phoenix and the two other ships already docked. If it wasn't for the fact that we were only there so we could destroy RI's drug base, I could actually get comfortable there.

During the jump to the new base, Kala had filled in the rest of the Maji on the plan and the state of the prisoners. There was a lot of emotion in the common room during that conversation - some anger, lots of tears - but I was grateful when no one jumped for the escape pod. That was a good sign, right?

Now, we were just waiting. Waiting for more of my father's team to arrive. Or, like Axon joked, waiting for our courage to arrive. Lenna smacked him over the head for that one.

"Hey, TJ?"

Turning away from the table, I saw Kade heading in my direction. I hadn't seen him since we arrived - he had been off with Kam somewhere and I hadn't bothered trying to find them. I was too busy studying the blueprint of the station, determining the weakest points.

"TJ," Kade bumped my shoulder, "you need to relax. Come chill with us. Eat something."

"I'm fine."

"TJ."

Rolling my eyes, I turned to lean my hip against the table. Raising a brow, I pointed at his chest, "I've been working, where have you been?"

He lifted a hand to rub the back of his neck. Were his cheeks getting red? They'd been doing that a lot lately. "I, uh, was relaxing."

"Uh huh."

His hand dropped to his side with a thud. Smiling, he pushed my shoulder gently. "Okay, I was with Kam but that's beside the point. You need to relax, seriously. You won't be any good to us dead on your feet."

I looked back down at the station, the numbers outlining the dimensions and weight filling my brain. "Or dead period, right?"

His brows pulled together, "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing." I sighed, glancing at him before shrugging helplessly. "Really, it's nothing. If my abilities are going to kill me, they will. There's no stopping that."

"Have you talked to Kala about this? Maybe she could help."

"No, it's fine. Really, there's nothing she could do anyway."

"Are you sure?" His eyes were full of worry when I looked up.

I offered a small smile, "I'm sure. These abilities, they're built upon over time. I've hidden mine for so long...my body just isn't used to them, anymore. Talking to Kala won't change that."

Reaching out his hand, he found my own and held on tight. "Don't let this make you think I don't believe in you, okay? I do. I know you can do this." He pulled my arm, as if to emphasize what he's about to say, "But I promised to keep you safe and I won't break that promise. If you start to black out - if you even think you're getting tired - you stop, do you hear me?"

"But Kade-."

"No." He squeezed my hand, hard. "You stop. Your life is more important than that stupid station. We can try another way. Do you hear me?"

The emotion in his face was hard to ignore but the force behind his voice was impossible. Unable to think of anything to say, I nodded my head.

He continued to look at me for a moment before nodding himself. Letting go of my hand, he waved towards the doorway. "Come on, let's get you something to eat."

Glancing at the blueprints on the table, I pursed my lips. Arguing was probably a stupid idea in that moment. With a sigh, I followed Kade out of the room and into the common room. It was then that I noticed more bodies - My father's people had arrived. And not only that, but some old friends had come to the party too. Zed winked at me when I caught his eye.

Glancing at Kade, I shrugged. "I guess food is going to have to wait."

A/N

So sorry for the late update on these last 3 chapters. Life has been a little crazy around my neck of the woods. But I'm back and trying to get into the writing groove again!

xx